teddy quinlivan chanel
photo: Getty/Rosdiana Ciaravolo/Getty Images

Model Teddy Quinlivan is a force of nature. She's dominating Fashion Week, fashion editorials and campaigns, our Instagram feeds, and now Chanel Beauty. She's making history as the first transgender model and activist to star in a campaign for the ultra-luxurious fashion house, continuing her ascent to the top. Quinlivan celebrated her success with all of us, but in a candid Instagram post, she explains that the road to Chanel was paved with hardships, including bullying, transphobia, and sexual assault.

Quinlivan is the face of Chanel Beauty's "Pick Me Up" campaign.

As the new face of Chanel Beauty, Quinlivan shows us how to get a "bronzed makeup" look in five little minutes. I didn't know that was possible, but thankfully she's here to explain! 

She applies Chanel's Soleil Tan de Chanel bronzing makeup base around her cheeks and forehead with the Pinceau de Chanel foundation blending brush, then quickly lines her lashes with Le Volume de Chanel mascara in N°10 Noir. Quinlivan's lashes look fabulous, and I'm tempted to splurge on the mascara myself. For the last step, she puts on Rouge Coco in N°428 Légende, a casual, bright mauve-pink. SHE LOOKS GORGEOUS.

Quinlivan wrote that working for Chanel was a "triumphant" experience.

On Instagram, Quinlivan announced the news with excitement and reverence. "I find I don’t cry anymore when things are sad, but isn’t it interesting when we shed tears in moments of triumph. This was one of those triumphant cry moments for me," she said, before continuing on about the struggles she'd endured on her way to the top.

She makes it clear that this achievement has not been easy.

teddy quinlivan chanel
photo: Instagram/teddy_quinlivan

"From being bullied at school consistently, kids threatening to kill me and going into graphic detail how they were going to do it, my own father beating me and calling me a f****t, to receiving industry blowback after speaking publicly about being sexually assaulted on the job … This was a victory that made all of [those things] worth it," she wrote.

She knows that this isn't just a makeup ad — it's trans visibility, personal success, and a huge step forward for her community.

"I am the first openly trans person to work for the house of Chanel, and I am deeply humbled and proud to represent my community. The world will kick you down, spit on you, and tell you you’re worthless. It’s your job to have the strength to stand up and push on, to keep fighting, Because if you give up then you will never experience the tears of triumph. Thank you to everyone who made this dream a reality!" she wrote. Aaaaand it is now raining on my face.

This isn't Quinlivan's first time working with Chanel. But it is her first time working with them as an openly transgender woman.

teddy quinlivan chanel
photo: Vogue Runway/Yannis Vlamos / Indigital.tv

Quinlivan notes that she's worked with Chanel twice in the past. In her capacity as a runway model, she walked for Chanel at their Fall/Winter 2016 and Spring/Summer 2017 Ready-to-Wear fashion shows.

Even before her Chanel Beauty casting, she's been slaying the fashion world.

Quinlivan's résumé is as impressive as her cheekbones. She's appeared in British Vogue, Berlin Numéro, L'Officiel España, and has walked for Paco Rabanne, Alexandre Vauthier Haute Couture, and Giambattista Valli, among many others. She's also fronted campaigns by Redken, Moschino x HM, Mutiny by Maison Martin Margiela, and Louis Vuitton. It's clear that Quinlivan is a busy woman.

Quinlivan also gave a TEDx Talk about coming out as a transgender woman.

Quinlivan publicly came out as transgender in 2017. In her TEDx Talk, she talks about how it was her "darkest secret," and how, if she came out, she "would lose everything." She became a model at age 17 and quickly found success, but kept her gender identity to herself — until it became a rumor in the industry. "Having this secret totally consumed me," said Quinlivan, and she found freedom after she came out.